Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-12-21
"GARNISH."
A Chapter of Housekeeping Wisdom
for Matrons and Maids.

We all know the difference q little
taste and care make in the preparation
of our food, and how much more palat-
aDle Is the plainest fare daintily served
than the most recherche cookery if care
lessiy or untidily prepared. The same
rule holds good in the daily life, and
no one should be more alive to the facts
than our hSusekeeper.
1t is in most cases owing to this lack
of garnish that the majority of the
difficulties that beset the nineteenth
century hause-mothers arise. We de-
spise the Ray of small things, and so
fall by litte and little. Little rough
nesses passed. unchecked, little courte-
sizes neglect I'd, little meannesses over
looked or Laughed at, small matters
that seemed too trivial to notice at the
time, which yet will in the end amount
to a total as aarling as it is formld-
able.
We all know that in our hOusekeep-
ing it is not the large sums that are so
trying. We c0alut the cost of large
outlay, and make provision for It; but
il is the tiny Sims, the pennies and
half-pence, that mount up SO terribly
and SO unexpe ctedly IN our weekly
accounts. Well, it is the same in our
daily life; the foolish jest, harmless
enough possibly to the elders, but
which the childresI hear with round
eyed horror, and discuss later In nur-
seTy conclave; the hasty, dlscourteous
word to your goyerness, for which you
probably apOlogiZed nicely enough
later. but which the maid, or the
BARNS, before whom you so thought
lessly uttered it. will not forget as soon
as you do; the sharp, perhaps unde-
~
you consider trIfies very likely, though
how they tell on the well-being of a
household few but experienced house
keepers realize. At all events, these
triies show a lamentable deficiency in
the ''garnish'' that makes such an i'm
menSe difference in the comfort of our
daily existence.
a good deal of the uncomfortable
feeling that undoubtedly exists between
mistress and maid owes its origin in
great measure to this neglect of small
things. a lew years ago there was an
unbrldgeI gulf between up and down
stairs. Servants were expected to
know their place." were looked on as
d kind of living automata, utterly un-
conscious of the sayings and dolngs of
the superior beings they were privi-
legged to serve. Not being either blind,
deaf or dumb, they were nothing of the
of the sort, but, on the contrary, un-
commonly sharp (and occasionally
malciousl critics of their betters, and
amply reVenged the slight they were
quick TO see was put upon them.
This feeling We have now TO combat
when trying in some measure to restore
''the constant service of the antique
world, " and tie task is not light one;
''the fathers have eaten sour grapes,
alld the children's teeth are set on
edge We looked on our servants as
separate class, with feeling utterly
dfde1eut TO ours. and fncapabie OF un-
dersrandlng less appreclatlng-
tine lGtle garnish we considered only
the ordinary courtesy of daily life in
our station. Well, they have frankly
accepted the situation, and, very natu-
rally, insist on the advantages of the
position we have forced them TO take
up. Treat a man as q human wolf,
and if he shows his teeth, aye, and use
them, too, who shall blame himI And
do you think that women, with their
more highly strung nerves and senitIve
feelings, are likely TO take the matter
more cody? Hardly. We have de-
spised the garnish, and have only our
selves to thank If the rough edges
show. 1t is the same with our children.
We allow them to speak disTespectfully
to ourselves. roughly to one another,
rudely TO the servants. We actually
foster their se,1Shness, and treat as
clever jokes the petty meanness and the
spiteful speech; and then we wonder if
our lads and lasSes grow up rough and
uncouth, or, if endowed, with "a sur
face polish, without one single thought
for anything outside their own COM
fort, and we call heaven and earth to
witness that never since the creation
were parents so lnnOcentiy unfortu-
nate.
If women would only realize what a
powerful weapon real refinement is,
they would value it more for them
selves and anxiously cultivate it their
offspring.
1t is the same in everything. Give
people credit for right feeling and good;
intentions, and in nine cases out of tent
you will do more to produce them than'
by the most eloquent admOnitions or
the most housewifely watchfulness.